Anchor for shoe heels



Dec. 31, 1935. V w, R. TOWSE ANCHOR FOR SHOE HEELS Filed May 21, 1954 3rmentor WILLIAM RTUWSE BB 7 WP, C62. Ora/F (it totney .7

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 TENT OFFICE ANCHOR FOR SHOE HEELS William R. Towse, Franklin Township, Franklin County, Ohio Application May 21, 1934, Serial No. 726,695

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for maintaining a shoe and particularly the rear portion of a shoe, slipper or other foot wear in snug and proper position against the bottom of the foot.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved, simple, economical and easily applied means whereby the shoe and particularly the heel portion thereof is maintained constantly in a snug fit on the foot notwithstanding the bending or rocking movement of the foot as in walking, running, dancing or exercises involving flexing movement of the foot. The invention is particularly beneficial in connection with low-cut or slipper-like shoes where a pumping motion of the heel oftentimes results in an annoying and repeated separation of the heel of the foot from the sole of the shoe. Devices for holding up the heel of a shoe have been proposed before but so far as I am aware they have not been dependable in effect. Moreover with this invention abrasion and irritation of the heel due to the pumping of that member in the shoe is certainly prevented.

The invention is embodied in the example herein shown and described, the feature of novelty being pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a shoe having applied thereto the straps according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view looking toward the heel portion of the shoe.

In the views 5 designates a flexible strap of leather or other suitable material having at one end an ordinary buckle B and having its other end stitched or otherwise secured as at I to the shoe upper at one side of the vertical medial line M of the counter of the shoe and at such a point as to cause the strap to lie flat on the wearers limb when the strap is extended diagonally upward, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

The other strap 9 which is provided at one end with the usual series of holes I to receive the tongue of the buckle. The other end of said strap 9 is secured, as shown at H, by stitching or otherwise to the side of the aforesaid medial line opposite that to which the strap is secured so as to cause said strap 9 also to lie flat on the wearers leg when the strap is extended upward diagonally and around the limb above the protuberant ankle bones, as indicated at 8 and 8*. From the front the strap 9 is extended downward to meet and be connected with the buckle as usual in a strap-engaging buckle and as indicated in Fig. 1. The straps should be drawn quite tightly together around the leg for buckling so as to prevent them from slipping down past the ankle bones. Because of their slant the two straps cross each other in the ordinary shoe at a considerable distance above the upper edge of the counter and they are stitched or otherwise 5 secured together at such crossing as indicated at l3 in Fig. 2, so that each strap cooperates with the other in maintaining both in position as well as facilitating their application to the rear of the leg in flat condition. It will be observed that be- 10 cause the secured straps extend substantially vertically upwardly at the rear, and around the leg above the ankle protrusion, the pull on the heel portion of the shoe is vertically upward to the horizontal surface of the heel of the shoe, and is therefore more effective than former constructions in holding the heel portion on the shoe up against the foot.

The strap 9 is preferably, as shown, but not necessarily made sufiiciently longer than the strap 5 to lie above both ankle bones and to cause the location of the buckle at the outer side of the limb and somewhat in rear of the ankle bone to prevent interference in walking, the shoe in the instance shown being a right foot shoe.

But the two straps can be extended upward above the ankle bone and the buckling effected at the front of the leg as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

In a left foot shoe the construction and arrangement of the straps can be symmetrically the same as herein shown and described with the buckle at the outer left side of the limb.

The forms and materials of the parts can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Means for supporting the heel portion of a shoe or the like in snug relation to the heel of the wearer, said means consisting of a pair of straps attached to the rear upper part of the counter of the shoe and at opposite sides of a vertical medial line of said counter, said straps crossing each other and extending upward inclinedly on the leg of the wearer with one of them above the ankle protrusion, means securing said straps together at their crossing point and said straps provided with means whereby their free ends can be secured together.

2. A shoe of the class described provided with means for supporting the heel portion thereof in snug relation to the foot of the wearer, said means consisting of two distinct straps, said straps each attached at one of its ends to the counter of the shoe, the points of said attachment 3. Means for supporting the heel portion of a shoe or the like in snug relation to the heel of the wearer, said means consisting of a pair of straps attached to the rear upper part of the counter of the shoe and at opposite sides of a vertical medial line of said counter, said straps crossing each other and extending upward inclinedly on the leg of the wearer with one of them above the ankle protrusion, and said straps provided with means whereby their free ends can 10 be secured together.

WILLIAM R. TOWSE. 

